The Colored Man is No Slacker

In this chromolithograph, a World War I infantryman bids farewell to his sweetheart while his comrades march carrying their nation's flag. Despite conflicting opinions on the war, and segregation and prejudice in the military, more then 350,000 African Americans served in World War I, soundly confirming the slogan on this military recruitment poster: "The Colored Man Is No Slacker."

Though the slogan prevailed, many Black men were drafted and had no choice but to serve. In 1917, 36 percent of African Americans were placed in the highest draft category (Class I) compared to 24 percent of white men. By war’s end, the military had inducted approximately 33 percent of Black draft registrants compared to roughly 25 percent of whites. Paradoxically, about half of all Black World War I soldiers served stateside, largely as laborers in uniform, with little hope of receiving combat training and deploying to France.

A chromolithograph of a soldier in a World War I uniform holding the hand of a woman in a blue dress. In the background troops are marching away. One of the troops is holding an American flag. "The Colored Man is No Slacker" is printed at the bottom center.